Taking on a roof repair job is a massive undertaking, so before you start, it’s important to know what you’re up against. Here are three things you should know before starting your DIY roof repair.
Roof Anatomy
Just as you would expect a doctor to know the anatomy of your body before working on it, you would expect the person repairing your roof to understand its anatomy before attempting to fix it. It’s important to understand the parts of a roof and their purpose before you try to repair it yourself. There are a lot of common roofing terms that are used to describe different parts of a roof.
Common terms you should learn include the roof ridge, ridge vent, flashing, hip, roof deck, roofing underlayment, roof valley, roof gable, dormer, eave, and under-eave vent. Learning basic roofing anatomy terms will increase your chances for success on your roof repair.
What Tools You Need
To successfully complete a DIY roof repair, you need to know what the right tools for the job are and how to use them properly. Investing in quality tools will help you finish your repair as quickly and easily as possible. Essential roofing tools you will need include a roofing nail gun, roofing nails, a roofing hammer, a cordless drill, a chalk line kit, a caulking gun, a ladder, roofing ladder hooks, a shingle shovel, and a tool belt. Especially if you plan on repairing more than one roof, you should consider purchasing quality tools. If you’re not interested in buying all these yourself, many home repair stores rent out equipment that you could use.
Safety Concerns
Working atop a roof comes with many inherent dangers. Before starting your roof repair, make sure to be aware of the weather on the day you plan to work. Wind, rain, or snow are all incredibly dangerous if you’re up on the roof. Additionally, make sure to stay vigilant about your safety. Check the roof’s stability before going up there (especially with more than one person), and always retain awareness of the edge. Make sure to use fall protection and tie yourself off whenever you’re on the roof. Using an abundance of caution may take you a few extra minutes, but your safety is always worth it.
No one ever wants to have to repair their roof, but it’s an unfortunate reality for many. However, if you learn your roof anatomy, purchase quality tools, and are responsible when dealing with safety concerns, your roof repair will go a lot more smoothly.
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